A Daughter's Life Cut Short in Long Island

As I sit here and think about this story the tears just fill my eyes. It is every parent's nightmare. On June 21, 2008 a young woman from Massapequa, NY in Long Island was found by her parents at a nearby home. Her parents had gone searching for her early Saturday morning after she had failed to return home from a graduation party the night before. Unfortunately when she was discovered at the home where the party had taken place she was discovered unresponsive and later pronounced dead at a local hospital.

I personally did not know young Natalie Ciappa, but my children had attended school with her at one point. And they heard about the news even before it was publicly made in the local news. This is when it really hit me that this can actually be anyone one of us with teenagers. At this time there has not been a cause of death linked to this untimely loss of Natalie, however the thought and speculation is that alcohol did have a role in her death. As there were reports stating that beer bottles were found at the scene of where she was found by her parents. I am really saddened by the loss of 18 year old Natalie Ciappa and my thoughts and prayers go out to this family that has to learn how to live and cope with this loss.

As parents of teenagers and young adolescents the worry of anything ever happening to our children will always be a concern. And as they become older and start to socialize more the fear of drugs, alcohol and sex becomes more worrisome to us parents. I think that choices that are made by parents on how to educate, discipline and reinforce about what is right from wrong is done on what they believe is right at the time.

However, at this time I am disgusted at the comments that have been left on several of the news articles about Natalie's death. There have been accusations of other causes of death without any validity; the parents have been blamed for not being stricter, the young woman is being told she should have known better although she is not here any longer. Some comments are just so vulgar that I am ashamed to even attempt to repeat them. Her myspace account has been broken down to include certain references as to her personal life by others who did not know her or her parents. The defamation that Natalie has faced under the comments section of these news articles is purely sickening.

I understand everyone has an opinion and it is not just in this one particular case of Natalie Ciappa, it is being done daily on just about any news report out there. But I just wonder why and how can anyone be so heartless to leave such derogatory and negative comments on such a tragic situation. Regardless of the cause of death and what people may view as parenting skills the loss of a child has to be one of the hardest things to deal with and unless one is in that situation I am sure it is even unimaginable. I just find it difficult to understand the cruelty that lurks out there.

As for today we can only hope and pray that we are teaching our children the values of life and what is right and wrong. Sometimes these lessons are learned and valued, sometimes they are forgotten for the moment and at times maybe they are thought that they are being utilized and still there is a negative outcome. I do not know the answer but it gets to a point in life that I am not sure anyone does. I am sure this family is hurting terribly and our apologies for those that may have left such unkind words and remarks under those comments sections in the news.

Resource:

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/crime/ny-liseaf235739027jun23,0,4586411.story